Locked Eyes, I Met Dubai!
Half desert,
half sea,
half oil,
half paradise,
United Arab Emirates: Dubai
United Arab Emirates: Dubai
Photography by Wu Qiuhuang
I had imagined many times what kind of city Dubai really is. In just ten years, it transformed from a desolate desert into a dazzling modern international metropolis, becoming the 'trade capital' of the Middle East and North Africa, and home to the world’s tallest building piercing the clouds. Today, Dubai has become a tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
[Travel Directory]
1. What Dubai looks like in your eyes
2. Day 1: Guangzhou International Airport – Dubai International Airport
3. Day 2: Dubai – Dubai La Perle
4. Day 3: Burj Khalifa – Dubai Mall – Souk Madinat Jumeirah
5. Day 4: Dubai Parks – Hollywood – Bollywood
6. Day 5: Dubai Spice Souk – Gold Souk – Desert Safari – Chongqing Hotpot
7. Day 6: Dubai Old Town – Jumeirah Mosque – Burj Al Arab – Jumeirah Beach
8. Dubai Travel Tips: Visa, Currency, How to Get There, Local Transportation, Hotels, Food
1. Dubai Visa: Dubai offers visa-free entry for Chinese citizens. Important thing said three times: visa-free, visa-free, visa-free! Since January 16, 2018, the UAE has opened visa-free entry for Chinese ordinary passport holders. Those with passports valid for more than 6 months can enter the UAE without pre-applying for a visa, no entry fees, and stay for 30 days. A trip you can take on a whim.
2. About Exchange Rate: The local currency in Dubai is the Dirham, abbreviated as DH or AED. 1 AED = 1.731 CNY, or 1 CNY = 0.5777 AED (as of May 2018). Simply put, Chinese RMB loses almost half its value in Dubai. Some ask if WeChat Pay or Alipay can be used. They can be used but rarely; supermarkets and convenience stores don’t support them yet. Waiting for Jack Ma to conquer the market, it’s better to exchange money at a bank or bring cash and exchange at local banks in Dubai. Just don’t exchange at the airport, you know why.
3. How to Get There: The most convenient way to Dubai is by plane. Besides flying, I can’t think of another way to reach Dubai. You can also experience the legendary A380. Many cities in China have direct flights, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, about 8 hours of flight.
4. Local Transportation: If you’re traveling independently, you can hire a car locally – it’s more expensive. Or take taxis. Dubai taxis have different rates: cheaper during the day, more expensive during evening rush hours. The starting fare is about 20 AED. After 11 PM, it becomes cheaper again. Renting a car yourself is cheaper – a few dozen dirhams per day, but you need an international driver’s license. Reminder: Dubai drivers drive very fast, often 120 km/h. Self-driving is not highly recommended. There are buses and metro, but for a small group, it’s about as convenient as taking a taxi.
5. About Hotels: It depends on location. This trip was 7 days 5 nights, staying at Hyatt Regency Dubai – Corniche, RMB 906, plus taxes about 1000 RMB per night. The room was very clean, bed super soft, but the twin beds were a bit small. The room size was okay, not too big nor small, with a warm color scheme. Friendly reminder: There is no toothpaste in the bathroom; prepare in advance. Shower gel, body lotion, and shampoo are provided.
6. About Food: Local cuisine is not to our taste. Many locals eat with their hands, like Arabic bread dipped in special sauces. The most common food we ate was KFC and McDonald's. You can also find some Chinese restaurants or hotpot online, but they are rare and more expensive.
[What Dubai looks like in your eyes]
1. Emirates’ sky giant, the double-decker A380.
2. Dubai La Perle, an unmissable light show of the year.
3. Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach, meeting Dubai’s most beautiful sunset.
4. Dubai’s ever-changing cityscape, the tallest building, Burj Khalifa.
5. Standing on the world’s tallest building at 828 meters, overlooking the panoramic view of Dubai, one tower captivates the city!
6. Walking on Dubai’s streets, locals proactively asked if they could take a photo with me.
7. A scene captured in a corner of Dubai Mall – I love the exquisite architecture here.
8. Dubai Mall, the Dubai Shopping Center in the UAE, as big as 200 football fields.
9. The traditional souk in Madinat Jumeirah.
10. Dubai Parks and Resorts, returning to European town architecture.
11. Dubai Parks, Bollywood’s Rajmahal Theatre watching a Broadway-style musical.
12. Paradise in the desert, United Arab Emirates: Dubai.
13. A ferry costing 2 dirhams round trip between the old and new city.
14. Jumeirah Beach, the setting sun gradually reddening the sky, coloring the sea.
About the author: Wu Qiuhuang, freelance photographer, travel experience specialist, professional aerial photographer, hotel sleep tester. Once dreamed of traveling the world with a sword, seeing its splendor. That year I quit my nine-to-five job, chose to resign for travel, reliving youth. If you also like photography, travel, aerial photography, feel free to message me.
[Day 1: Guangzhou International Airport – Dubai International Airport]
Departed from Guangzhou International Airport, ready to board, heading to the oil country. Guangzhou – Dubai, 8-hour flight, supposedly the legendary double-decker Emirates A380.
Flew Emirates EK363, departing 00:15 AM, arriving Dubai at 04:25 (local time) because China is 4 hours ahead. So Dubai 04:25 is actually 08:25 in China.
The A380 is an ultra-large long-haul wide-body aircraft developed by Airbus in 1996. Currently, domestic routes like Beijing–Guangzhou, Beijing–Hong Kong, Beijing–Shanghai... Only large airports in first-tier cities can accommodate such a huge plane.
The Airbus A380, known as the air giant, is the most attractive among large airliners, with double-deck design. Economy class on the lower deck is spacious and quiet, making the 8-hour flight less tiring.
Each seat has a touchscreen with high sensitivity, built-in Chinese, movies, music, games.
From Guangzhou, flying over Kunming, India, direct to Dubai. Reminder: There’s Wi-Fi on the plane, but only 20MB of free data. If you want more, you can buy 150MB, I think it’s $30 or something, I forgot.
The upper deck has business and first class. Compared to domestic first class, the seats are much more spacious, with warm tones that are pleasing to the eye, large LCD screens, immersing you in audio-visual entertainment.
Emirates is the largest customer of Airbus, having ordered 143 A380s. Perhaps only such a large aircraft can meet the demand for travel to Dubai. The A380 has four engines and can carry up to 853 passengers, taking off very smoothly.
[Day 2: Dubai – Dubai La Perle]
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Dubai – Corniche
Address: Deira, P.O. Box 5588, Deira, Corniche Deira, Dubai, Dubai, 5588, UAE
Arrived at Dubai Airport. While heading to collect luggage, two handsome foreign guys saw me with my camera and asked in English if I could take some photos for them. At first, I thought they wanted to use their phone, but they pointed to my camera. After taking photos, they asked if I had WeChat, to send them the pictures. Was I being hit on? It’s the most direct approach I’ve ever seen – asked me to take photos, then asked for my WeChat.
The hotel I stayed at: Hyatt Regency Dubai – Corniche, RMB 906 plus taxes, about 1000 RMB per night. Used passport, filled a form, checked in. Because I arrived early, I had to wait until 10 AM to get the room.
Room was very clean, bed super soft – apart from Thai latex beds, this is the softest bed I’ve slept on. I didn’t want to get up. The twin beds were a bit small. Room size was okay, not too big nor small, with warm colors.
Friendly reminder: No toothpaste in the bathroom; bring your own. Shower gel, body lotion, shampoo provided. Few electrical sockets, different from Chinese three-prong sockets. Phone chargers work, but laptop chargers don’t. So prepare a universal adapter and power strip.
Reminder: When booking online, I couldn’t specify a king or twin bed – tried several platforms, all the same. They randomly assign. At reception, just ask for twin beds and it works.
Local food: If you don’t understand English abroad, you’ll cry. Ordering by picture, the boss said most items in the picture aren’t available. Many locals eat with hands, like Arabic bread dipped in special sauces. This restaurant is frequented by locals, so prices are reasonable.
Ordered two dishes and a cola: 5+5+3=13 dirhams. 1 AED = 1.7 CNY, about 22 RMB. Not bad.
La Perle, Dubai’s dream water spectacle, performed in a theater inside the W Hotel. One puzzle: you can use a phone to take photos, but not a DSLR. I was speechless.
Ticket price: From AED 400, about RMB 680. AED is the abbreviation for Dirham in Dubai.
Next to it is W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, a stylish hotel combining youth and fashion. Geometric lines outline perfect patterns, making you feel immersed.
Shh, the show is about to start. Immersive stage, the center is a deep pool. Amazingly, the floor around the stage can fill or drain water in seconds, then dry. Truly magical – just a few seconds.
Sometimes they leap into the air, dive from over 20 meters into the water, then slowly rise and fly across the stage.
There are also Chinese lion dances. The stage is unique, with only 14 rows of seats, creating a 270-degree viewing angle. No seat is 'second class.'
Two performances daily, except Mondays. Each lasts 90 minutes (no intermission). It’s a Cirque du Soleil-style 'carnival' with acrobats, divers (the stage has a diving pool), motorcycles, etc. The performers’ superb stunts and refreshing props captivate you.
The thrilling performance sometimes takes your breath away, but you can’t help clapping and cheering for the actors. Honestly, it might be hard to follow the story behind the performance, but as said, the highlight is the stunts and stage effects – a conceptual work, not a narrative one.
[Day 3: Burj Khalifa – Dubai Mall – Souk Madinat Jumeirah]
Left the hotel early in the morning. In Dubai, independent travel isn’t very convenient; taxis are a fast option. The city has highways with 5 lanes; once on them, drivers speed up, often hitting 120 km/h on the speedometer.
In a decade, Dubai turned from desert into a city of soaring skyscrapers, letting the world see its rapid growth. In the car, I saw buildings rising on both sides flashing by.
Today we visited Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, a miracle of human architecture. To go up, first get to Dubai Mall.
Buy tickets at Dubai Mall. Prices vary by floor and time slot. Online prices:
Floors 148+125+124, peak time (09:30-18:00) adults: ￥798;
Floors 148+125+124, regular time (19:00-22:00) adults: ￥668;
Floors 125+124, regular time (08:30-14:30/19:00-23:00) adults: ￥234;
Floors 125+124, peak time (15:00-18:30) adults: ￥378.
The tower has 162 floors total; tourists can go up to floor 148. Elevator rises at 17.4 m/s, reaching floor 148 in a few minutes. After exiting, staff hand out juice and pastries – really thoughtful.
The view from this floor is best. Burj Khalifa stands 828 m tall, offering a panoramic view of Dubai. Truly the world’s tallest man-made structure.
Clear glass lets you take in every scene of Dubai. Standing at the top of the world to see unique scenery. Burj Khalifa started construction in 2004 and topped out in 2010, taking 6 years to complete 'the world’s tallest building.'
Used for trade, economy, tourism, it not only boosts Dubai’s and the UAE’s international profile but also puts Dubai on the world map.
Every year, tourists from around the world come to see it. It has become a symbol of Dubai. The first skyscraper built in the desert, one of the ten architectural wonders of human history. Its foundation must be solid; any slight deviation would ruin everything.
Burj Khalifa, originally called Burj Dubai, also known as Dubai Tower or Burs Dubai, was renamed Burj Khalifa after completion. In ancient Arabic world, 'Khalifa' means 'supreme leader of the Islamic world' and was also the title of the ruler of the Arab Empire. The president of the UAE, who is also the Emir of Abu Dhabi, is named Khalifa.
Standing on the world’s tallest building at 828 m, taking in Dubai’s scenery – one tower captivates the whole city, too beautiful.
After visiting Burj Khalifa, you can also explore the world’s largest aquarium inside Dubai Mall. Here you can admire rare aquatic creatures and watch an otter painting show.
You won’t believe that such exquisite scenery is inside Dubai Mall. This was taken in a corner of Dubai Mall – I love the architecture here.
Dubai Mall, also known as The Dubai Mall, is the world’s largest shopping center. According to Baidu Baike, it covers 5 million square feet, equal to 50 football fields. Actually, that’s wrong. Staff told me it’s as big as 200 football fields. Baidu Baike’s info hasn’t been corrected, so many misunderstand.
Most restaurants inside are fast food. Local cuisine isn’t for us. Finally found something like Chinese: bread with noodles, beef and cola, 35 dirhams, about 60 RMB. Important thing: it filled us up, haha.
Not only locals eat here, but also many tourists visiting Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall. Convenient and fast service.
After lunch, visiting the world’s largest shopping center – you can’t say you went to Dubai without it.
Dubai Mall now has over 1,000 brands. Many stores accept Alipay, using the international exchange rate: 100 CNY gets 58 dirhams. Having Alipay abroad is convenient. It’s said that using Alipay makes people spend more.
Locals recommended visiting Souk Madinat Jumeirah if you have time. It’s a paradise for buying souvenirs. From Dubai Mall, a taxi costs about 40–50 dirhams. Arrived near evening.
Inside, I was attracted by the dazzling array of Arabian handicrafts. Asked prices, compared online, much cheaper. I wanted to take them all home – so beautiful and exquisite, with weight: Aladdin lamps, camels, Burj Khalifa statues, various ceramics.
Does it look like Venice? Tourists can take a boat tour through Madinat Jumeirah. Adults 80 dirhams per person. A boat ride in the ancient city must be charming.
Madinat Jumeirah is located on Jumeirah Beach, an architectural complex designed in the style of an ancient Arabian city. Buildings of varying heights and shapes are cleverly arranged, with clear blue waterways contrasting with earthy traditional buildings, exuding a rich Arabian atmosphere.
Behind it is the seven-star Burj Al Arab. It’s said that if you haven’t booked a room, you can’t enter. The best way is to book afternoon tea or dinner online: afternoon tea about 170 RMB per person, dinner from 700 to over 1000 RMB.
Strolling in Madinat Jumeirah, every spot is photo-worthy. Crossing small bridges, admiring ancient architecture, feeling like in an Arabian castle.
I chose an Aladdin lamp and fridge magnets. Remember to bargain – how much depends on your skill. Two items cost 70 dirhams total.
[Day 4: Dubai Parks and Resorts – Hollywood – Bollywood]
Came to Dubai Parks. Didn’t have high expectations, so some friends said they didn’t want to go and went off on their own. When we got out of the car and saw the scene, I think those who didn’t come must have regretted it.
Immersed in a fairy-tale European town. Posting photos on WeChat, friends thought I had gone to Europe.
The only food we could eat well in Dubai was KFC and McDonald’s – the taste is similar whether at home or abroad, though it varies slightly by country.
Dubai Parks and Resorts consists of three theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, and Bollywood Parks Dubai, plus a water park. Legoland is suitable for kids.
Motiongate Dubai (Dubai’s Hollywood theme park) offers movie-themed rides, including Kung Fu Panda from China. Classic screen animations like 'Smurfs,' 'How to Train Your Dragon,' and 'The Hunger Games' are recreated, letting you immerse.
Don’t miss the indoor roller coaster. You may have ridden thrilling outdoor ones, but this indoor coaster is a must. After sitting and fastening seatbelt, it slowly moves forward. Lights on, suddenly accelerates – feels like flying. Before you realize, a 360-degree spin – extremely exciting. Reminder: Not suitable for children, people with heart conditions, pregnant women. Most people can’t handle it.
Too hot? Want to get wet? Go to Legoland Water Park – you’ll get soaked and have fun, diving into adventure.
The Dubai Parks roller coaster first slowly rises to a height, then drops backwards quickly – more thrilling than ordinary ones.
Bollywood Parks Dubai lets you experience environments inspired by blockbuster Bollywood films.
You can see many popular Hollywood and Bollywood characters, feel the strong Indian vibe, listen to beautiful Indian music, and appreciate scenes from real Indian movies.
Rajmahal Theatre is not only the core and soul of Bollywood Parks Dubai but also a local landmark, known as the 'Crown Jewel' of Royal Square. Such a beautiful place with few people – perfect for photos.
It celebrates the unparalleled beauty of Indian architecture, which inspires many Bollywood movie scenes. During the day, you can enjoy stunning live performances; at night, you can buy tickets for the highlight – the first Broadway-style Bollywood musical in the region.
In the evening, there’s a show at Rajmahal Theatre – a must-see. Normally, photos and videos are prohibited, but we communicated with staff and got permission – really great.
Experience unprecedented visual effects at Rajmahal Theatre, home to the region’s first Broadway-style Bollywood musical.
At night, Bollywood in Dubai Parks looks even more charming. A day of fun leaves you wanting more – if only we could stay here overnight.
Seeing red lanterns in Dubai means Chinese food. Sure enough, Chinese hotpot. Yes.
The menu is in Chinese and English. Eating Chinese hotpot in Dubai moved me to tears. This restaurant is LILY’s House Chinese Hotpot at Pirata Dubai Parks & Resort. So delicious. Just looking at the menu makes my mouth water.
This was the fullest meal in days. Returned to hotel around 11 PM or midnight, showered, and slept soundly.
[Day 5: Dubai Spice Souk – Desert Safari – Chongqing Hotpot]
Dubai Spice Souk is about a 20-minute walk from Hyatt Regency Dubai – Corniche. When traveling, I like to wear local clothes to fit in. I bought an Arabic outfit (clothes + headscarf + rope) – asking price 120 dirhams, bargained to 80 dirhams. The quality is pretty good.
Walking on Dubai streets, a local saw me from his car, got out, and proactively asked if he could take a photo with me. I was so happy! I told him, 'I’m from China. Welcome to China.'
Booked Desert Safari on Fliggy. Vehicle: Hummer H2, 6L, fuel consumption: 22L per 100 km. About 300+ RMB per person. Cheaper options: 100+ or 200+ RMB for Toyota desert safari. Tip: For a real dune bashing experience, choose Toyota. Although Hummer is more expensive, it’s heavier and less agile off-road compared to Toyota.
Reason to choose Hummer: looks great in photos, gives a blockbuster feel. Posting on WeChat: 'In Dubai, driving Hummer, doing dune bashing!' Rolling sand dunes, sometimes calm, sometimes thrilling.
Half desert,
half sea,
half paradise,
United Arab Emirates: Dubai
Dubai’s sand is very fine, soft underfoot. But driving on it feels effortless, like on a road.
After a stretch, the driver stops for photos. A driver from another car showed me how to pose with my hand on my chest, changing gestures, looking happy.
After dune bashing, there’s dinner in the desert. A group gathers around the stage. First, an Arabic dance show. If lucky, you might be invited on stage. If brave, you can go up and dance with the girls.
Dinner is buffet style. Friendly reminder: If it’s windy, cover the food with cloth, or you’ll eat sand.
You can interact with performers on stage, take photos. For 300+ RMB, including dune bashing, dinner, show, free hotel pickup and drop-off, no hidden costs – great value.
After having hotpot the previous day, I got addicted. Back at hotel, I and a few friends looked for a nearby Chinese restaurant to eat again.
There’s Liuyishou Hotpot near Dubai Gold Souk. It made me forget I was abroad. Great taste, spicy enough, almost like the real flavor from Chengdu, Sichuan. Except more expensive: hotpot base 29~49 dirhams, beef 39 dirhams. Three of us spent over 600 dirhams.
[Day 6: Dubai Old Town – Jumeirah Mosque – Burj Al Arab – Jumeirah Beach]
Some ask about traveling in Dubai. As a country built in the desert, most goods are imported. Some things are expensive, some are super affordable – it depends on how you play. Local exchange: 1 dirham ≈ 1.7 RMB. In China, what can you do with 2 RMB? Buy a popsicle (maybe not chocolate), or a lollipop...
But in Dubai, 2 dirhams can let you spend half a day at a place. In Dubai Creek, there’s a ferry: ticket only 1 dirham, about 1.7 RMB, less than 2 RMB. You can cross from one pier to the opposite side.
Once on board, the boatman collects the fare; no need to buy beforehand. Just find an empty seat. The boat isn’t big, carries about 20 people. It’s used for passengers and sometimes cargo.
About 20 minutes to cross, shuttling across Dubai Creek. Such a great price in Dubai, letting you enjoy two different sceneries along the way. After disembarking, continue ahead to the local textile souk.
Shop owners are very enthusiastic, coming to shake hands, take photos, inviting you into their shops.
Arabian souvenir here is similar to Souk Madinat Jumeirah. If you buy, remember to bargain.
Arabian souvenirs dazzle you. If you like something, negotiate. Start at half the asking price.
Jumeirah Mosque is one of Dubai’s largest and most beautiful mosques. Unfortunately, it was closed when we went; we could only walk around the exterior.
Jumeirah Mosque is a model of modern Islamic architecture with strong Middle Eastern features, one of Dubai’s most attractive sights. Under sunlight, the gold pineapple patterns on the dome sparkle, and the tall minarets declare the solemnity of the Quran.
Originally, this mosque was only open to Muslims; non-Muslims were not allowed. Now, to promote understanding of Muslim culture, it opens for tour groups – only on Sundays and Thursdays at 10 AM.
If you want to visit, book with a guide in advance. Dress code: no exposed legs, abdomen, or arms; women must cover their hair.
Jumeirah Beach – met the most beautiful sunset. Arrived just in time for the setting sun; not many tourists. A few foreign girls were playing by the sea.
The setting sun gradually reddened the sky, coloring the sea, as sweet as eating a marshmallow, warming the heart. So beautiful – I haven’t seen such an enchanting sunset in a long time.
Strolling along the beach, waiting for the sun to slowly set, the waves gently lapping the sand, as if waiting for you.
Next to Jumeirah Beach is Burj Al Arab. The waves crash, creating sprays, like a sailboat slowly moving forward, setting sail toward the other shore.
The afterglow dyed the sky red, also dyeing the sand on the beach. I wanted to walk barefoot all the way... A ship slowly passed in the distance, and the sky gradually darkened.
Travel tip: Jumeirah Beach is the only place where you can see Burj Al Arab up close without a ticket – the best spot to watch the sunset.
Last meal in Dubai – had to be full. Found online: Tang Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, Chinese cuisine. All dishes were Chinese: shredded potatoes, stir-fried beef, pickled pepper fish, Beijing roast duck... Even the waiters speak Chinese.
We ate voraciously. Of course, it wasn’t cheap: 10 people, spent over 700 dirhams, about 1200 RMB. One complaint: restaurant accepts WeChat or Alipay, but exchange rate was 2, while international rate is 1.7. Since it was the last day, almost everyone had run out of cash, so we paid by credit card.
[Day 7: Dubai International Airport – Guangzhou International Airport]
Woke up early and was fortunate to see the sunrise in Dubai. A new day begins – keep going!
Flew Emirates EK362, 10:20 AM – arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun T1 at 22:05 PM. Brought back from Dubai: sand, local clothes, teddy bear, chocolate, folk pouches, Aladdin lamps... Locked eyes – I’ll visit Dubai again if I have the chance.
